physiological and psychological factors affecting food availability

physiological factors

hunger, appetite, satietynutritional requirements e.g. gender, age, size, activity levelreactions to food e.g. appearance, odour, taste, allergy

what is the central nervous system

(CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cordis involved in controlling the balance between hunger, appetite, and food consumptionhumans will respond to feelings of hunger and satiety

peripheral nervous system

- the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body- controls muscles, body functions, carries messages to and from the CNS

Hypothalamus

- is the gland that controls hunger, located at the base of the brains- works w/ the pituitary gland to regulate body tempretarure, control appetite and thirst, prompt sleep and wakefulness and control release of growth & sex hormones

define hunger

Hunger is the physiological need for food. Can be defined by a feeling of emptiness, weakness, or pain caused by a lack of food

physiological cues for hunger

- Empty / Growling Stomach- Decrease in Blood sugar levels- Lightheadedness- Changes in circulating hormones

Physiology

the study of the functions ,mechanisms and structures of living organisms (body function)

define appetite

The desire or craving for food even if the body is not hungry. or lack of desire for food due to lack of appetite, even if you are hungry

factors that can stimulate/suppress our appetite

- Stress- Illness- Social situations- Environmental influences

define satiety

Satiety is the absence of hunger or feeling of fullness after eating.

how does satiety impact our food selection?

Once you start eating your hunger eventually subsides and satiation will start, which affects the amount of food you eat

humans basic nutritional needs

- Growth and repair of body tissues- Regulate our basic life processes- Provide energy

5 factors that determine our individual needs

1. Age2. Activity level3. Body size.4. gender.5. Physiological state (e.g., pregnancy, high cholesterol etc.)

3 main body types/builds

- Ectomorphic: is a skinny build.- Mesomorphic: is a slim build.- Endomorphic: is a bigger build.

types of activity levels

- Sedentary lifestyle includes sitting and sleeping.- Light activities include standing and moving around often.- Moderate activities include walking and swimming.- Vigorous activities include running and aerobic exercises.

sensory perceptions

Using our senses to make a judgement about the quality and appeal of food.

appearance

- First reaction to food often comes from appearance- Food that is displayed attractively looks more appetising. Appearance can stimulate or supress appetite.

odour

- 80% of what we perceive as flavour is due to smell- This can also stimulate or supress appetite.- Odour and taste work together to produce flavour

sound

- Sounds of food being prepared, cooked, served and eaten all influence our preferences and food choices.

taste

- Achieved by sending messages to the brain via taste buds.- Taste buds are small sensors on surface of tongue, mouth and throat- Different areas of tongue sense the different tastes: e.g. umami

texture

- Can be assessed through touch- As food is chewed we can determine whether it is chewy vs tender, dry vs moist- viscosity=resistance of a fluid, turgor=rigidness of cells

food allergy

when the body identifies a food or substance in food (protein) as foreign. The body then produces antibodies to kill or remove whatever is bothering it, which in turn creates distressing physical reactions.

food intolerance

The bodies sensitivity to a chemical present in the food. This includes lactose, gluten, wheat, food preservatives. reactions are delayed, symptoms may take several hours or even days to appear

what is a food taboo

A food that isn't accepted in a culture, such as pork in Muslim culture

psychological factors affecting food selection

values, beliefs, food habits, attitudes, emotions, self-concept, experiences. reviews bottom of summary notes 4.

compare hunger and appetite

hunger acts as more of a basic drive, while appetite is more of a reflection of eating experiences. We may not be hungry, but still have appetite. or be hungry, but have no appetite

activity level

sedentary lifestyle: sitting and sleepinglight activities: standing and moving around oftenmoderate activities: walking and swimmingvigorous activities: running and aerobic exercise